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Effect of comorbidity on the risk of death associated with antipsychotic use among community-dwelling older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2012

Natasa Gisev ,
Sirpa Hartikainen ,
Timothy F. Chen ,
Mikko Korhonen  and
J. Simon Bell
Natasa Gisev*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sirpa Hartikainen
Affiliation:
Clinical Pharmacology and Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Unit, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
Timothy F. Chen
Affiliation:
Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mikko Korhonen
Affiliation:
Leppävirta Health Centre, Leppävirta, Finland
J. Simon Bell
Affiliation:
Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Clinical Pharmacology and Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Unit, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Natasa Gisev, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy and Bank Building (A15), The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2006. Phone: +612 9036 7081; Fax: +612 9351 3491. Email: natasa.gisev@sydney.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: Antipsychotics are associated with adverse events and mortality among older adults with dementia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of death associated with antipsychotic use among community-dwelling older adults with a range of comorbidities.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study of all 2,224 residents of Leppävirta, Finland, aged ≥65 years on 1 January 2000. Records of all reimbursed drug purchases were extracted from the Finnish National Prescription Register and diagnostic data were obtained from the Special Reimbursement Register. All-cause mortality was evaluated over a nine-year follow-up period. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazard models were used to compute unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality of antipsychotic use compared to non-use.

Results: In total, 332 residents used antipsychotics between 2000 and 2008. The unadjusted HR for risk of death associated with antipsychotic use was 2.71 (95% CI = 2.3–3.2). After adjusting for baseline age, sex, antidepressant use, and diagnostic confounders, the HR was 2.07 (95% CI = 1.73–2.47). The adjusted HR was the highest among antipsychotic users with baseline respiratory disease (HR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.30–3.76).

Conclusions: The increased risk of death associated with antipsychotic use was similar across diagnostic categories, the highest being among those with baseline respiratory disease. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, as the overall sample size of antipsychotic users was small. As in other observational studies, residual confounding may account for the higher mortality observed among antipsychotic users. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords

antipsychotic agentsmortalityagedpharmacoepidemiologyrespiratory tract diseases
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 7 , July 2012 , pp. 1058 - 1064
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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